Under-the-radar fantasy prospects

Ten players who aren't labeled top prospects, but still could help in fantasy

AP Photo/Jeff RobersonTim Cooney shouldn't be overlooked in an organization that has proved to be full of pitcher prospects.

The term "under the radar" gets used a bit too often, in my opinion. After all, if a player immediately pops into your head when you're thinking of an underrated prospect, how underrated can that player really be?

That said, some prospects simply haven't gotten their just due as being considered top prospects, and yet can help your fantasy team in the coming years.

"When you look at a top 10 or top 100 or whatever the number is, you have to realize that's just covering the cream of the crop," one NL executive said. "I think people assume if you don't make the top 10 of a team list or some variation, you're not a quality prospect. That's simply not true. Teams need to fill a roster with 25 quality players, and the fact of the matter is that most of those guys are going to be players that don't rank high on prospect lists. That's not a shot at the people who make the lists, that's just the reality that these lists only take you so far."

In order for a player to qualify as "under the radar," I set two rules:

And so with those guidelines in place, here are 10 prospects -- five pitchers, five hitters -- who might not have been on your radar but have a chance to be fantasy stalwarts in the next few years:

Pitchers

1. Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue JaysCurrent level: High-A DunedinPitching grades: 60 fastball, 55 curveball, 55 changeup, 50 slider, 50 control/commandAnalysis: It has taken some time for Norris to figure things out, but he appeared to turn a corner late in 2013 and has been one of the most dominant starters in minor league baseball over the first six weeks, posting an ERA under 1.00 and 48 strikeouts in 40 innings.

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